Game



July 16, 1929. l E. H, WOODARD 1.720.707

, GAME Filed Feb. 16, 1928 MFH 70 76 9% l yMZdr/M J Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES EVERETT H. WOODARD, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

GAME.

Application led February 16, 1928.

The object of my invention is to provide a game of the kind in which streams of fluid, such for instance as water, may be directed competitively against movable targets for the purpose of causing the targets to attain certain objective positions.

It is my purpose to provide a plurality of targets and a lurality of fluid discharging means in combination, whereby two or more players may participate in a game of skill with equal opportunities to win.

I preferably provide a mechanism so arranged that either gravity or other means will be utilized for resisting the movement of the target toward its objective point of destinaation.

It is a further purpose of my present invention to provide means for limiting the direction of flow from the fluid projectors to a certain area.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my game, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more full)T set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a portion of a game embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top or plan view of a modified form of my game; and y Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view of the form of my game shown in Figure 4 taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

My improved game is one which can be utilized with apparatus varying considerably in the details of structure.

As illustrating what may perhaps be one of the preferred forms in which the apparatus is embodied, I have shown a. game of the kind in which there is provided a plurality of inclined troughs, each of which is provided with a target, such for instance as a ball.

I have also shown fluid projecting means for throwing streams of water against the balls in the troughs for directing the balls against the upper ends of the troughs.

Games of this kind are used at amusement parks an-d the like.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally Serial No. 254,683.

the troughs which are supported in any suitable way.

The lower ends of the troughs, as indicated at 10, in Figure 2, are preferably substantially horizontal, while their rearward portions for greater parts of their lengths are inclined upwardly and rearwardly as at 10b.

The lower portions 10a of the troughs are provided with drain holes 12.

For each trough, there is provided a target, which may be a ball 14 adapted to roll in the trough, the diameter of the ball being preferably slightly less than the width of the trough, so as to allow some play and to increase the difficulty of driving the ball to the top of the trough.

At the upper end of each trough, the trough is provided with a hole 16 into which the ball may drop, but which is not large enough to allow the ball to drop through.

For driving the balls 14 toward the far ends of t-he troughs, I provide fluid vdischarging means, comprising in the present case nozzles 18 pivoted as at 20 upon brackets 22 for vertical, swinging movement. rlhe brackets 22 are pivoted as at 24 upon a support or supports 26 for horizontal swinging movement.

The nozzles are thus permitted limited universal movement.

Each nozzle 18 is preferably provided with a handle 28. Leading to each nozzle 18 is a flexible hose 30.

I preferably provide below the troughs 10 a sump or tank 32 to catch the surplus fluid. For my game, I preferably use water.

A pipe 36 is provided leading from the lowest part 34 of the sump 32. The pipe 36 leads to a pump 38 operatedfrom a motor 40 in any suitable way.

The pump 38 'discharges through a pipe 42 into a closed tank 44 at the lower end thereof or directly to the discharge nozzles. When the water is forced into the tank 44, the air therein is compressed, so that the water in the tank is then subject to pressure.

An air compressor may be used if desired for supplying compressed air to the upper part of the tank.

A supplying pipe 46 leads from the tank 44 and is provided with a master control valve 48, which the attendant can manipulate as may be desired.

The pipe 46 communicates with a pipe 50 from which the branches 52 extend upwardly. The branch pipes 52 are connected with the flexible hose members 30 already de- Cil scribed. Each branch pipe 52 is provided with a controlling valve 54C, which may be manipulated by means et an arm 56. Fivoted to each arm 56 is a control rod 5S eX- tending to the side ot the apparatus as shown in Figure 3, so that the attendant, standing at one side, may control all of the valves 54e.

rlhe valves are arranged in a bank, so that the control rods are at different heights. rlhis arrangement, of course, may be varied to suit the convenience and taste of the builder.

lt will thus be seen that there is provided means whereby a stream of water may be directed from each nozzle 1S against its ball 1&1 for driving the ball from its position in the lower part of the trough 10 upwardly in the trough toward the hole 16.

The balls 14, of course, may be or' any desired sizes tor varying the difficulty in oreing the balls by means ot' the streams of water upwardly in the troughs.

I preferably arrange a signaling means., whereby the attendant,players andspectators may readily and easily determine when the ball in any particular trough has reached and dropped into its hole 16. As shown, l have mounted at the upper end of each trough outside the trough a signal means, such for instance as an electric light globe 60. Pivoted below the upper end of each trough is a movable switch member 62, having an arm 62, projecting to a point beneath the adjacent hole 16. rFhe switch member 62 coacts with la yfixed switch contact 64:. rlhe switch member 62, contact 6a and the lamp 60 are included in a suitable elect-rie circuit, indicated generally at A in Figure 2.

Onthe switch member 62 is an arm 66. rlhe spring 68 is secured to the arm 66 and to some suitable part of the frame for yieldingly holding the switchmember 62 free from contact with the switch contact member 6a. `When the switch is thus opened, the arm 62a is held in raisedv position, so that when the ball 14 drops into the hole 16, the ball will aetuate the arm 62a, and thus move the switch member 62 to circuit closing position.

Any other Jform of signal, such as a bell could be used in the circuit.

Then the ball 141- is removed from the hole 16, the spring 68 aetuates the movable switch member to break the circuit.

For removing the balls'ld from the holes 16,1 provide a suitable mechanism. ln Figure 2, I have shown at 70the rear wall upon which is supported a transverse shaft 72, having projecting arms or lingers 7d arranged below the respective arms 62. The shaft 72 is rotatably mounted and projects through one of the end members 76 of the tank or frame, and has on its outer end an arm 7 8, shown inFigure 1, to which is pivoted a control rod 8O extending toward the front of the apparatus and there pivoted to a controlling lever S2.

These parts are so arranged that the attendant can actuate the lever S2 for rotating the shaft 72 for rocking the arms 711- upwardly and thus raising the arms 62a for litting the balls 14 outot the holes 16 and permitting them to roll down the inclined guideways or troughs.

ln playing a competitive game with the apparatus here shown, balls 14C are placed at the lower, substantially level part-s 10"L ot the troughs or guideways 10. Each player aims one of the nozzles 18. The attendant can open as many oitl the valves 5stas there are players, leaving closed the valves for the guideways where there are no players, and when the players are already, opens the valve 416, whereupon streams of water will be discharged lrom the nozzles 18 from the water under pressure in the tank del.

The players direct the streams of water against the balls 1d, driving them up the inclined guideways 10, and the player who first gets his ball in the hole 16 wins. i

The water drops back into the sump 32 at the bottom ot' the large tank and is pumped back into the pressure tank 14s.

rFhe game is one in which considerable skill can be exercised and the element of competition is secured.

rlhe inclined guideways or troughs illustrate one form in which a game involving the general type of my invention may be embodied.

rlhe principle involving the game may, however, be employed in constructions ot' different types.

As another illustration of a structure in which my gamemay be embodied, I have shown in Figures 5 and 6 a plurality of guideways 841, comprising level troughs arranged adjacent to each other. Floating in the troughs, there may be provided, instead of balls 14, targets 86 of some other kind, for instance floating boats. The troughs 84: are designed tov cont-ain enough water to float the targets and excess water flows ott through pipes 88.

It is desirable that the targets in a game of this kind should normally tend to move toward the nozzles, and for this purpose, I have provided in the form of device shown in Figures a and 5, cables 87 secured to the respective targets and extended over pulleys 90 and connected with weights 92.

Where the form of game shown in Figure 1- is employed, l use-nozzles 18, one for each guideway. rlhe nozzles 18 ofthe device shown in Figures l and 5 are adjustable in the same way as those heretofore described and are supplice with iluid 'in the manner already mentioned.

l/Tilherethe device ofthe type shown in FisllU ' reached its destination.

ure 5 is employed, streams of water are directed against targets 86 for forcing the targets to the far ends ot the guideways.

The targets may be made to engage movable switch arms 94 for closing circuits through signal devices 96 for thus giving a signal to indicate which target has irst These arms 94 are located between the sides 94:a of ports formed at the tar ends of the guideways. The ports are narrower than the guideways, as shown. It thus requires skill and care to cause the targets to enter the ports and contact with the arms 94.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my invention may be embodied in many forms., and it is, oi" course, my purpose to cover by my claims any modiiied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a lgame of the kind described, a course for containing water, adirigible target arranged to float in the water in the course, the course and target being of such width that the target may have substantial lateral movement in the course, a relatively narrow portat the objective end of the course, into which the target must be directed to win the game, and a signaling apparatus in said port for indicating when the target has reached the port, means tending at all times in the progress of the target to return it to starting position, and dirigible means for throwing a stream of water toward the target for forcing it along the course to the port.

2. In a game of the kind described, a plurality of units, each comprising a course for containing water, a dirigible target arranged to float in the water in the course, the course and target being of such width that the target may have substantial lateral movement in the course, a relatively narrow port at the objective end of the course into which the target must be directed to win the game, and a signaling apparatus in said port for indicating when the targethas reached the port, means tending at all times in the progress of the target to `return it to starting position, and dirigble means for throwing a stream of water toward the target for forcing it along the course to the port, means for simultaneously supplying water under pressure to all of the project-ing means, and additional means for independently controlling the flow of water to each ot' the projecting means.

3. In a game of the kind described, a course for containing water, a dirigible target ar-.

ranged to iloat in the water in the course, the course and target being of such width that the target may have substantial lateral movement in the course, a relatively narrow port at the objective end of the course into which the target must be directed to win the game, and a signaling apparatus in said port for indicating when tlie target has reached the port, means tending at all times in the progress of the target to return it to starting position, dirigible means for throwing a stream of water toward the target for forcing it along the course to the port, and means for collecting overflow water and supplying it under pressure to the water :discharging means.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 24, 1928.

EVERETT H. WOODARD. 

